With spring just around the corner in most parts of the country, or maybe underway where you are, common questions get asked regarding trimmers and what cutting attachments are approved for them. What is the best cutting attachment for my application? How do I rewind my cutting attachment and what is the proper way to trim with a STIHL machine? These are great questions and STIHL has several resources to help accomplish all the tasks.

Your Owner’s Manual for your machine is a great resource to help you find which cutting attachments can be mounted to your machine. Since there are many different configurations, we cannot describe them all here, but they are outlined in your Owner’s Manual. If you cannot locate your manual, please download a copy from our website at STIHL.ca and navigate to the Know How tab on the left side of the page. From there, select the appropriate manual. You can either read it, or download it and print it off for future reference.

Your local STIHL Dealer is well equipped to assist you in selecting the cutting attachment most appropriate for your task. Your dealer has these attachments in stock and will be pleased to assist you in choosing one that will best suit your needs.

Storing it or soaking it in water will help reduce line breakage and make the line more flexible.

A few tips to help you as the season approaches: trimmer line is hygroscopic; this means that it will absorb moisture. Actually, STIHL premium line will absorb 5% of its own weight in water. Trimmer line does tend to dry out over time and becomes more brittle. Storing it or soaking it in water will help reduce line breakage and make the line more flexible. Be sure to deplete your supply of last year’s line before you purchase new line and begin using it.

The STIHL PolyCut™ blades are also hygroscopic. The packaging of these blades actually recommends that you store them in water. Keeping them in your garage under the window or on the dash of your pick-up truck is not a good idea, as the sunlight and heat will dry them out and reduce their life.

Winding cutting attachments can be a frustrating endeavour. Depending on the head style, some need to be disassembled while others do not. Consult your Owner’s Manual for specific instructions for your model. Always remember, any time you do have the cutting attachment open, to tap the dust and debris out of the head that naturally builds up inside the housing. If you never clean this debris out of the head, it tends to fall inside the spool wound with the line. This causes increased friction and thereby increases line weld and melt. Our website STIHL.ca has complete winding instructions for our line heads. It is located under the Know How tab, along the left side of the page.

If you choose a line size greater than the machine is designed for, it may overheat the engine because of the increased load caused by the line.

It is important to select the proper line size for your machine. If you choose a line size greater than the machine is designed for, it may overheat the engine because of the increased load caused by the line. This can cause serious engine damage. Consult your Owner’s Manual.

The advancement of the line from a tap and go type of head occurs because centrifugal force pulls on the line as the head rotates. This causes the spool inside the head to rotate, allowing more line to exit the head. It is always best to tap the head to advance the line before the line is too short and the centrifugal effort is reduced. There is little to no force available when the line is worn down to 2 cm in length. If you need to “tap” your cutting attachment harder on the ground than you’re used to, it may be because the “button” on the bottom is worn and needs to be replaced, or the head may be filled with debris and needs a simple cleaning.

For suggested mowing techniques, please consult your Owner’s Manual or check our website at STIHL.ca under the Know How tab. Full instructions are given, complete with pictures and text on best mowing practices.

In the interest of safety, always observe the safety recommendations of the manufacturer and the Owner’s Manual. Wear proper safety clothing, including safety glasses, and ensure that no one is in the area in which the machine is working. Debris can be kicked up by these types of machines and injury to the operator or bystanders is possible. The safety decal on the machine suggests at least 15 meters clearance between the machine and any bystanders.

Following some simple guidelines and safety precautions will ensure that your summer is filled with safe and enjoyable experiences, as you maintain your piece of the world, wherever that may be!